ADVANCED STAGE AND EARLY RELAPSE OF BREAST CARCINOMAS ASSOCIATED WITH HIGH THYMIDINE LABELING INDEXES

Abstract

The thymidine labeling index (TLI) showed a lognormal distribution for 133 primary breast carcinomas with a median of 2.21 and a range of 0.04-18.6/100. High TLI were associated significantly with nuclear anaplasia, pushing tumor border, necrosis, cellular inflammation and total replacement of lymph nodes involved by tumor. The data suggested an association of high TLI with large primary tumor and the presence of axillary metastasis. All 5 patients who initially had local or distant spread had above median TLI. They and the 38 patients who developed recurrent tumor during a mean interval of 3.2 yr of observation after mastectomy showed a higher geometric mean TLI than those who remained tumor-free (2.93 vs. 1.85; P < 0.05). The rate of early relapse for operable patients with above-median TLI was significantly greater than that for patients with below-median TLI (P = 0.0018). High TLI appears to be associated with rapid evolution of breast carcinoma prior to and following diagnosis and treatment.